Lawyer casts doubt over donations made to influencer's wildfire fund
Mr Ronnarong on Saturday said he shared the information with Pak Kret police in Nonthaburi and asked them to help examine Mr Sean's bank accounts and trace the donations. He said the bank accounts should be frozen if police found irregularities or illegal activities. He said he had donated 10 baht to one of Mr Sean's bank accounts to help extinguish wildfires in Chiang Mai. "Why does he not appear in public to take responsibility for this matter nor disclose the bank accounts that were used to receive donations?" Netizens dug up his past and alleged he had not disclosed the money he had raised for the wildfire fund.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 04, 2020 23:59 UTC
Strict rules for US army delegates
US army chief of staff Gen James McConville will meet his Thai counterpart, Gen Apirat Kongsompong, and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Thursday and Friday, Gen Somsak said. McConville: To meet Gen Prayut"The delegation must observe six measures imposed by Thailand's Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), with which they agreed to comply," Gen Somsak said. "They will be accompanied by Thai officials and will travel on a predefined itinerary,'' said Gen Somsak. "They only asked that they be tested by a team of US army doctors from the Bangkok-based Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences. When the centre insisted on using a Thai team, they agreed," the source said.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 04, 2020 23:48 UTC
Hope, fear as kingdom's gates creak ajar
WORSE THAN THE 2004 TSUNAMIIn Phuket alone, tourism generated over 420 billion baht from 10.6 million foreign tourists in 2019. Without foreign tourists, Phuket has diverted its attention to the domestic market. On the nearby Koh Tao island, hotel and resort operators are also preparing for guests, said Kosol Phongphadungkiat, the owner of Ko Tao Resort. "Phi Phi people want the situation to return to normal as quickly as possible since businesses here have been closed for three months, which felt like three years," he said. "We are ready to welcome tourists but stringent conditions and measures must be in place," said Ms Wichuphan.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 04, 2020 23:48 UTC
Violence flares again in deep South with explosion, gunfire
Violence flares again in deep South with explosion, gunfireViolence in Narathiwat, one of three restive southernmost provinces, has flared again with gunfights and a bomb explosion in a small village in Su-ngai Padi district, officials said yesterday. Two men riding a motorcycle attacked a security base at Ban Joh Nam Sai in tambon Paluru, in Su-ngai Padi district. The explosion took place minutes before 48th Ranger Regiment Force chief Col Ekkapol Leknok came to the site to investigate the shooting incident. In another restive southern province of Pattani, one village security volunteer was killed and two soldiers seriously injured during a drugs crackdown. He was wanted on four court warrants related to planting bombs and three other cases related to the killing of soldiers and security volunteers in Pattani.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 04, 2020 23:26 UTC
Lao dam project sparks environmental concerns
Lao dam project sparks environmental concernsThe latest dam project set for the Mekong River this year, spearheaded by the Lao government in Luang Prabang province, has renewed fears among other countries through which the river passes of the effect such structures have on the surrounding environment. Neighbouring countries Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam have raised concerns over the potential impact of the hydro dam, according to the Mekong River Commission (MRC) Joint Committee. "Concerns brought up during consultations are similar to those neighbouring countries had over Xayaburi dam. Vietnamese experts, on the other hand, complained the effects of the latest dam on the river should have been analysed cumulatively as there are already two other dams on the lower section of the Mekong -- Xayaburi dam and Don Sahong dam. It hopes to begin selling electricity from the dam to Thailand and Vietnam by 2027.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 04, 2020 23:26 UTC
Mass exodus on the road
More than 2 million people used public transport to travel to their provincial homes and for leisure trips on the eve of the Asahna Bucha Day and Buddhist Lent weekend on Friday, according to the Transport Ministry. Chaiwat Tongkamkoon, permanent secretary for transport, on Friday said 2,272,275 people boarded public transport vehicles on Friday, 7.79% more than predicted. Given large numbers of people using public transport services, Mr Chaiwat said, he has instructed state agencies to strictly enforce health and safety measures to keep the risk of Covid-19 infection at bay. Maj Narin said speed cameras have been installed around the park to protect wild animals from being hit by cars. The number of visitors to popular tourist spots in the park is limited to prevent overcrowding amid Covid-19 fears, he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 04, 2020 23:26 UTC
3 designs to rebuild historic building
3 designs to rebuild historic buildingThe Fine Arts Department (FAD) will propose three blueprints for the public to choose in rebuilding the Bombay Burmah, a teak wood house in Phrae province which was demolished last month. traces of the past: A photo shows old carved panels that contractors removed as they dismantled the 127-year-old Bombay Burmah teak house in Phrae province last month. "These blueprints are based on information we have obtained from archaeological and historical surveys on the background of the Bombay Burmah house," FAD director-general Prateep Pengtako said. "If we want to bring Bombay Burmah back to life, we should know in which state we will rebuild the house." The three blueprints will be unveiled in a public hearing in Phrae province.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 04, 2020 23:26 UTC
House passes B3.3tn budget bill
House passes B3.3tn budget billThe House of Representatives passed the first reading of a 3.3-trillion-baht budget bill for the fiscal year 2021 on Friday night. After a three-day debate, the bill passed with 273 votes in favour, 200 against and three abstentions. The House appointed a 72-member vetting committee to scrutinise the bill within 30 days. Among the committee members is Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the former leader of the Future Forward Party (FFP), an opposition party that was dissolved in February by the Constitutional Court. Mr Thanathorn said he will scrutinise the bill and give recommendations on the government's budget spending.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 04, 2020 23:26 UTC
Speech curbs hold back nation
Speech curbs hold back nationLast week's final acquittal of rights activist Andy Hall by the Supreme Court, whilst certainly welcome and the correct verdict, was also a stark reminder of just how damaging to free speech Thailand's laws are. It was a verdict seen as yet another example of the protection afforded to businesses and individuals when legitimate questions are raised over their conduct. On these shores, truth is often no defence if a reputation is considered to have been tarnished. A scathing Human Rights Watch report in late 2019, among recommending a wealth of necessary changes to its legal framework, urged the need to "amend Thailand's criminal laws to conform to international human rights standards for freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly". And, right now, who can blame him?
Source:Bangkok Post
July 04, 2020 23:26 UTC
Juve move seven points clear
MILAN: Gianluigi Buffon set a new Serie A appearances record on Saturday as Juventus beat Torino 4-1 in the Turin derby to move seven points clear at the top of the table after nearest challengers Lazio lost to a Zlatan Ibrahimovic-inspired AC Milan. Buffon, who spent last season at French club Paris Saint-Germain before rejoining Juve this term, signed a one-year contract extension earlier this week. Torino gave themselves hope when Andrea Belotti scored a penalty past Buffon in the sixth minute of first-half injury-time. Juve were not done and made it four with three minutes remaining as Torino defender Koffi Djidji put through his own net. The 38-year-old Swede netted a penalty in the 34th minute to score his fifth goal since rejoining Milan from LA Galaxy in January.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 04, 2020 22:18 UTC
Italy says could take rescued migrants Monday
Italy says could take rescued migrants MondayMigrants are rescued by members of French NGO SOS Mediterranee off the coast of Lampedusa on June 25, 2020ABOARD THE OCEAN VIKING IN THE MEDITERRANEAN - Italy is carrying out tests on 180 migrants rescued in the Mediterranean with a view to transferring them to a quarantine vessel in Sicily, an interior ministry source said Saturday. The migrants have been on the Ocean Viking ship operated by SOS Mediterranee for over a week, with fights and suicide attempts on board prompting the charity to declare a state of emergency on Friday. The Ocean Viking, which has been in limbo in the Mediterranean south of Sicily, has been waiting for permission from Italy or Malta to offload the migrants at a safe port. The migrants, which include Pakistanis, North Africans, Eritreans, Nigerians and others, were picked up after fleeing Libya in four separate rescues by the Ocean Viking on June 25 and 30. The migrants include 25 minors, most of whom are unaccompanied by adults, and two women, one of whom is pregnant.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 04, 2020 22:07 UTC
Man Utd rout Bournemouth, Leicester's Vardy reaches century
Man Utd rout Bournemouth, Leicester's Vardy reaches centuryManchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (right) said his side's fine form has slowed him from ageing. United have now scored 11 times in winning their last three Premier League games and netted five in a league match at Old Trafford for the first time since 2011. Eric Bailly gave Bournemouth brief hope when he conceded a penalty just four minutes after coming on as a half-time substitute. "To get the two goals and the three points is all you can ask for," said Vardy. The Canaries are seven points from safety with five games remaining after losing all five games following the coronavirus hiatus.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 04, 2020 17:48 UTC
Polish president speaks out against same-sex couple adoptions
Polish president speaks out against same-sex couple adoptionsPolish President Andrzej Duda, in a June 28, 2020 image, wants to ban adoption by same-sex couplesWARSAW - Poland's President Andrzej Duda, who is running for re-election in the conservative, Catholic EU member, on Saturday said he wanted the constitution to explicitly forbid the adoption of children by same-sex couples. On Saturday, Trzaskowski told reporters that he is also "against same-sex couples adopting children". Trzaskowski is generally seen as favourable to gay rights. He has said he is open to the idea of civil partnerships between same-sex couples, which are currently banned in Poland. Gay rights were also a key issue ahead of Poland's parliamentary elections in October.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 04, 2020 16:52 UTC
Final curtain: Film buffs salute Scala
A nattily attired cinephile surveys the cinema on Saturday as the Scala counts down to its final curtain. (Reuters/Chalinee Thirasupa)Donning masks and observing social-distancing practices, movie fans on Saturday bade a final farewell to the Scala theatre in Bangkok, which will to close its doors for good on Sunday. However, Chulalongkorn University, which owns the site, has denied that there are any plans to demolish the Scala for now. Moviegoers gather in the ornate lobby of the Scala in Siam Square. (Reuters/Chalinee Thirasupa)A woman writes a farewell message on a sticky note to be posted on a wall at the 50-year-old cinema.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 04, 2020 14:03 UTC
Australian man found dead in Pattaya
Rescue workers prepare to remove the body of an Australian man from his apartment in Pattaya on Saturday. (Photo: Chaiyot Pupattanapong)PATTAYA: A 59-year-old Australian man was found dead on Saturday inside an apartment with a plastic bag covering his head and fastened with a cable tie wrapped around his neck. Wearing a T-shirt and underwear, the man had a green plastic bag covering his head with a cable tie fastened around his neck. His hands were also bound with a cable tie. The building’s housekeeper, who discovered the body, told police the man had lived in the apartment for almost three years.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 04, 2020 13:18 UTC